Water heater and the like



Jlln 6, 1944. VC, l DIXQN 2,350,450

' WATER HEATER AND THE LIKE Filed May 28, 1943 36 fr@A 4g I A zo? 151i I Z7 ,76 L gwWM/r 70 37 30 77 vf 53 i ,34, g 75 ATTORNEYS i Patented June 6, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATER HEATER AND THE LIKE Cuthbert L. Dixon, Dunkirk, N. Y. Application May 28, 1943, Serial No. 488,920

(Cl. B22- 267i 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hot water heaters, steam boilers and the like, and has for one of its objects to provide a practical, desirable and eflicient water or iiuid heater of improved novel construction.

Other objects of the invention are to produce a water or fluid heater which is of such construction that maximum capacity and heating eiiiciency are obtained in a heater of moderate size, compact and economical construction; which is a simple and inexpensive construction, provides a maximum area of heating walls arranged so as to most efficiently apply or utilize the heating medium and secure direct and intimate contact with said walls of the products of combustion or' other heating medium and the water or fluid to obtain the maximum transfer of heat from one to the other.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following specification of the preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in the accompanying drawing, and the novel features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional elevation on line I-I, Fig. 2 of a heater embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation thereof on line 2-2, Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional elevation thereof on line 3 3, Fig. 2.

In the preferred construction shown in the drawing, which illustrates the device as more particularly designed for heating water, the heater is built with upper and lower main sections or portions I and II located one above and upon the other. Said upper section comprises opposite, or front and rear, upright hollow headers I4 and I5 connected by horizontal or nearly horizontal outer and inner tubes I6 and II which are arranged concentrically, or one lengthwise within the other. The opposite open ends of the outer tubes It are joined by suitable fluid-tight joints with the inner or facing walls I8 of the opposite headers I4 and I5, so that these tubes form a plurality of passages communicating with the header chambers through which fluid can iiow from one header to the other. The inner tubes I'! extend through the opposite, hollow headers with their opposite open ends joined by suitable fluid-tight joints to the outer walls I9 of the two headers, thereby forming a plurality of open-ended passages extending completely through the heater section I0 for the passage of products of combustion or other fluid heating' medium lengthwise through the heater section.

Likewise, the lower heater section II comprises opposite end or front and rear hollow headers similarly connected by a plurality of outer and inner tubes I and I'l, but preferably said lower section is made with a pair of spaced front headers 20 and ZI and a single rear header 22.

The two front headers 20 and 2| are located at opposite sides of a `central re box or burner chamber 23 of the casing for the tubular heater, in which the fuel ior `the heater is burned, and the heating tubes I6 and I'I of this lower section II are disposed in separated groups extending at opposite sides ofthe re box from the two front headers 20 and 2I to the rear header 22. As shown, a partition divides the left front header 20 into lower and upper chambers 24 and 25, and a horizontal partition divides the rear header 22 into lower and upper chambers 25 and 2l, so that the water or uid to be heated, which may enter the lower chamber 24 of the left front header through a suitable inlet pipe connectjon 28, will flow rearwardly from this chamber through the connecting tubes i6 at the left side of the fire box to the lower rear header chamber 2li, then across in this chamber and forwardly throughA the connecting tubes I6 at the right side of the lire box to the right hand front header 2l, thence rearwardly from the upper portion of this header through higher tubes I5 at the right side of the fire box to the upper rear header chamber 21, across in this chamber and forwardly through the higher connecting tubes at the left side of the tire box to the upper chamber 25 of the left hand front header 20.

Frontheader M of the upper section II of the heater, as shown, is divided by horizontal -and vertical partitions into two lower chambers 23, 29, and two upper chambers 30 and 3l', while the rear header I5 of the upper section is shown as divided by partitions into lower and upper chambers 32, 33, and a Vsingle end chamber 34. The fluid passes from the upper chamber 25 of the left front header 2U of the lower section through a suitable connection 35 into the lower left chamber 28 of the front header I4 of the upper section. From the chamber 28, the uid will circulate back and forth through diierent groups of tubes I6 and connecting header chambers of the upper heater section, thus passing through the tubes and chambers 32', 29, 34, 30, 33 in the order recited, to the upper left hand 'chamber 3| of the front header I4 from which the fluid will discharge through a suitable outlet connection and pipe 36 which may lead to one or more radiators or the like (not shown) from which the fluid canreturn to inlet connection 28 for recirculation through and reheating in the heater.

Thus, the water or uid to be heated will circulate back and forth through the headers and different groups of tubes I 6 at opposite sides of the fire' box in the lower heater section and then back and forth through the headers and different groups of tubes I6 of the upper heater section located above the re box 23, and will be also Caused to flow through the inner tubes I'I.` I'

on their way to the smoke pipe orchimney, and,

since the water or uid being heated is divided .theoppositeheaders and open at their opposite into numerous relatively thin streams' or'b`odies.; in the annular spaces betweenA the .severalinner j A u n 'meansforming chambers 1n said caslng conand outer tubes, a rapid and maximum transfer of heat is effected from the heating medium -tof the mediumv being heated. n e

For thus causing the hot gases to pass through the inner tubes I1, the outer casing 40 in which the tubularheater, organized as above explained, is housed, hasrincorporated therein, in the construction illustratedi'n thedrawing, transverse partition Vwalls 4I and 42,111 which the front and rear headers of the heater sections" are set, and which divide the interior of thecasing into a central chamber 43 rand end or front-and rear chambers 44 and`45r. The central chamber 43 communicates with the fire boX or burnerchamber 23, and at its upper portion communicates with the front chamber44over the vtop of the wall 42, vbut is shut oil by wall 4I vfrom thejrearchambcr 45, which'leads to the smoke pipeor chimney. lThe tubes lli of the lupper heater section are located in or pass through the central chamber 43,' Therefore, the draft createdbythechimney will cause thev hot gases to pass from the fire boxup through the centralv -chamber, -betwee'nand around the various tubes I6, and from the upsingle header groups of tubes connected per portionof the central chamber into front chamber Y44, from which the-hot gases will be drawn through several inner tubes I 1 to the rear chamber 45, and thence to the chimney or smoke stack. Any other appropriateformation of the heater ca-singxor` housing, orother'means, could be employed ,to `cause the'xhotgases to flow throughthe inner'tubes` I1 as wellV as'around or over the outer-tubes I6- for heating the water or uid circulating-through the outer tubes. 'f'

If solid fuel is to be used as the heating medium, a suitable're pot and'grate can'be provided in the re box or .chamber 23,`or the re box otherwise appropriately constructedzto contain or coninel the fuel, but if a-iiuid-fuel burner is employed as theA heat producing means.'

When the fluid heater constructed as disclosed, is to be employed as a boiler or steam generator, a 'steam drurnor upper steamV chamber may be incorporated in the device in communication with the water space of the tubular heater; The purpose and arrangementt of such steamv drums are well known .and detailed disclosure Vofgthe same herein is .believedv unnecessaryfglvhenV more heating area'is -required or necessary,` additional, suitable heatersections can be added, by placing them with Vtheir headers on top of. the head1 ers of the varioussections shown o n` the drawing.

I claim asfmy invention:

1.v In a heater forfluids comprisinga casing-l having a fire4 chamber inA its lower central portion, and a tubularstructurehoused. in the casing'irlcluding` opposite hollen/headers substantially horizontal outer tubes vconnecting, said headers.

and formingpassages for the'flowrof Vthe iluid from oneheader to another, andan inlet andan" improved -constructien y outlet l-'for` the uid, the

in which said tubular structure comprises a lower portion having spaced headers at one end and groups ofV tubes at opposite sides of said fire chamber and a single header at its opposite endgjan", upper A-portion .with oneheader at each end4 and connecting tubes located over said re chamber, said headers being constructed to cause s fthe fluid to circulate from said inlet through said `headers and tubes to said outlet, inner tubes `extending through said outer tubes and through Vends for the passage of gases therethrough, and

structedand arranged to cause hot gases from said f ire chamber to pass between and around said-outer tubes and 'then pass through said inner tubes.`

v2.4In a heaterfor fluids comprising'a casing havingv a re chamber in its lower central portion, and a tubular structure housed' in the casing 4including opposite hollow headers, substantially horizontal outer tubes connecting said headers and v'forming passages for the lw of the' huid from on'eheader to another, andan inlet Aand an outlet for 4the fluid, the improved construction in rwhichsaid tubular structure comprises a lower-sectionand an upper section above and supported onthe lower section and having a iluid passageconnection therewith, said lower section lhaving at'oneend spaced headers l'cated at opposite sides of said fire chamber, a at its opposite end, and spaced with said headers, and' said upper section having A,headers at opposite 'ends'and connecting tubes located overrsaid `re chamber, said headers 'being constructed to causethe `fluid' Vto circulate from said inlet .through saidv headers and tubes to said outlet, inner tubes extending through said outer tubes and through the opposite headers and open at their opposite ends for the passage of gases therey through, `and means forming chambers in said such'will not be necessary casing constructed and'arranged to cause hot gases from said re'chamber to pass between and' around. said outer tubes and then pass through said inner tubes. 7 A f f3. In a heater for fluids comprising a casing having. a fire chamber in its lower centralfportion, vand a tubular structure housed in the casing'including opposite hollow headers, substantially horizontal outer tubes connecting said headers and lforming passages vfor the ow of thefluidfrom .one header-to another, the improved constructionin which said tubular structure comprises spaced lower header portions and diierent groups of said tubes located at oppositersides of'said re chamber, upper header portionswith connecting tubes located over said re chamber, al uid inlet on one of said lower spaced header vportions and a fluid outlet on one of said-,upper header portions, said headers being constructed to cause the uid to circulate fromsaid inlet first through said lower groups of'tubes and then through said tubes over the re chamber to said outlet, inner tubes extending rthrough said outer tubes and through the oIJDQSiteheadersand open at their 'opposite ends forthe passage of gases therethrough, and means forming chambers in said casing constructed and arranged to cause hot gases" from said re chamber to pass between and around said outertubes and then pass Vthrough said inner tubes.

- i ERT L. DIXON. 

